Why Trend Analysis?
Trend data identify if the area covered by a particular land cover
type is increasing, decreasing, or remaining unchanged. They also
identify the rate of that change and in what locations it occurred.
Comparing the trends of one land cover type to another may indicate
cause and effect relationships (i.e., the increase in urban area
causes a reduction in forest area). The information gleaned from
trend analysis can be used to forecast future changes in the landscape.
Knowledge about how the landscape is expected to change in the future
can help coastal managers better plan to manage coastal resources.
| Land Cover Change Map and Trend Lines |
 |
Left: Land cover change map
between 1972 and 2000 overlayed on a grayscale image. The beige
areas and white areas are categories that represent urbanization.
The small patches of dark green are new forests that have returned
to full canopy after Hurricane Hugo.
Right: Trend lines derived from plots of land cover in acres
for a series of land cover data sets. The upward trend of the
grass and developed lines is indicative of urbanization. The reduction
in non wetland forest corresponds to forested land being replaced
by urban areas. The trend lines have been projected to the year
2010. |
Use the following links to learn more about Land Cover Trend Analysis:
Trend Analysis Home | Why Trend Analysis? | Data Sources
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